New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-13
PERSONAL NOTES.
SOME MEN OF THE DAY-THEIR OPINIONS
AND OB>ERVAT TONS

AND OB>ERVA TIONS.
senator-elect c. X. Davis, of Minnesota, who is in
New-fork has come here not alone for rest but avail
himself OF the services of oculist of his eyes
having become affected by long application and study.
In personal appearance he so closely resembles tho
General Ben Butler of twenty years ago he might
easily be mistaken for of the politician. The
men happened to be guests at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
three or four years ago and by chance seated at
table facing each other. The other quests In the din
them constantly during the meal, and finally old
clergyman, who was acquainted with General Butler,
wakd over to the table and greeting the General said
that he had never known before that General Butler
had SON. Tho incident brought about introductions
ana PHEASANT talk between the two politicians 1t is
said that during Governor Davlss courtshp of his
handsome vile, who st. Paul girl, she insisted
that she had photograph of him taken when he
SOLDIER and on his challenging the production of it,
she exhibited in locket tho photograph of Ben
Butler. Mr.. DAVIS was born in this State, but his
parents moved to Wisconsin while he infant.
grado ef sodlrr during the war Using 10 the
study and practise law His first entrance upon pub
lie Ire was made through lecture entitled Modern
Fendaiism 1t was delivered in 1869 during the
growth OF the Granger agitation in the West and com
pared the railroad corporation control to the old
ieudai system advocating at the Same time State con-
troll OF these properties. Four years later, although
not thryhve years OF he elected Governor OF
Minnesota, and was called upon T. administer laws
which In his lecture he had predicted could not be
nade Withn hty wears. During his administration
legislation was effected by which the control of tho
railroads passed INTO he hands of the State and the
rates OF transportation maze at the State capital
Speaking to me OF this Period of his public career,
the Governor said that the rates obeyed and Gu
! forced without any trouble. "This" said he. was
| the first movement toward the present step In Ma
tonal affairs which has found expression in the Inter
state Commerce bill Our law was contemporaneous
with the Potter bill in Wisconsin. believe that am
entitled to the credit of being the first to agitate from
the public rostrum State and Government control OF
| the railroads."
As lawyer, Governor Davis's practice, which is
large one has been built up entirely outside OF rail-
road and corporate interests He is nearly always
arrayed against the corporations inquired OF him
il this u matter OF principle or of chance and he
replied: Naturally from my public position driited
into the prac'ice which in opposition TO the rail-
roads but have Occasionally accepted retaners from
them in individual cases and instances. Nv objection
TO corporation practice that il neifered with my
personal comfort. could bring r1yself to the
pos ton IN the practice OF Law where might be 80
me- AT any moment 10 here there in their inter
eats. have preferred to rule nv clients rather than
be ruled by them. 10 was wholly matter OF choice,
as any lawyer would understand"
Governor Davis's old home in Wisconsin was on the
tract oi land which has become famous tie
Bethesda Springs. His grandfather owned the ecton
land where the spring is located. The Indian trail
10 Milwaukee ran ty the spring and he told me that in
his early days Il was beautiful spot, the rich, luxuri
a0 gr with OF grass the knobs slopng dow into the
spring and the pure clear water forming mirror that
entccd him in his boyhood days TO lie tor hours look
ing into ts CLASSY This spot, only few miles
fro Milwaukee, was then the frontier OF the country
and he often seen his grandmother drive away the
indians from her house. The hungry native OF that
day. no said. "was the original tramp OF this
country IL exceedingly ludicrous to see my
grandmother driving ont OF the door three or four
| great huking Indians who had come there 10 demand
food. and. having received what she saw fit TO give
| them, had i,npudenty asked Tor more. she was an
energetic blackcysd woman who had no fear OF them
and whose command was sufficient to drive them
| OUT
| no ncmo atic ca
rarely comes East that he is accompanied by his
L" Man Friday in Michigan politics, l. Weston,
of Grand Rapids Dickinson is tall long limbed and
active. lie might enter an amateur walking contest
with excellnt prospects OF winning victory. Wcs-
ton is small in stature. stout in grtb and short
winded 1t is one OF Dickinso"s picasantres to tell
his friends that his cab Lire bile in the East IA ALWAYS
| foot. d by Weston. " When want to 20 anywhere"
said he. I" I start out loot with Weston When the
first block ~ passed he begins TO flag and beg for
mercy and yelIs tor cab As have no objections to
ri Ing his expense that settles it, get the cab and
he pays Tor it,"
! hear story from St Paul visitors in NewYork
about n remark recently made there by Governor Fitz
hush Lee OF Virginia. The Goycrno. was about to
take his first obogLa ride. Ie equipped in
toboppan suit OF wonderful combinations and colors
and all ready for the start. Waving his hand TO
some OF the Nirgmians that accompanied hn he
shouted A" Now urn Virginia over to the Lieutenant
Governor il created great merr1ment among tue
onlookers.
One Of the peasantest things hear said about Sena
Farwe, of Illinois, il that his first act arriving
in Washington to call upon aud pay his respects
TO Mrs Logan.
At almost any hour Of the day pedestrians upper
Broadway may Charles II. Reed. the attorney who
defended Garcds assassin. sitting in vi the large
arnchairs aud LOOKING Of the corridor wIndo~ of
the Barrett House Reed has often been described in
public PRINT. lie IL a medum--ized well butt man,
with square cut face nigh forehead and largo dropping
| raw mi "a
| attending those who took pat IN the defence OF
| tirtcau Reed has been In constant trouble since
that affair AIN told he has lost what practice he had
Although the Scent lunch counters still in full
tide of prosperity lower Broadway and on Wallet.
the originator Of the bact lunch business has gone
the way of other di-covcrers. His name Harry
Buffers and he for himself in this line of business
the nickname of the " Fve-cent Dulmonicv OF New
| York Buffers came here from the West where he had
been engaged in insurance and mimi. in California
aud the Territories lie essayed n mammoth estaD-
lishment broadway in the centre of the drycoUds
region which he called the Merchants Bullet Ii cost
$1,000 to III ny tho place. lie took In several pat
ners to assist him In carrying out the project ke
Gently the establishment has been shown to be fail
ure and has been closed up TO be opened MS saoon
while Buffers has gone to seok other bel!s OF useful
ness One of his partners told me thai about SoOoOo
was sunk IN tho venture "hch ne declared ony
lacked proper business attention to have made prom
table. Buffers was br ght mar of original ideas.
high livei and too generous for his business
A. r. Whitney, who Is ono of the heavy iron men of
Ncw.York, a member of the Union League Club. and q
valiant Republican of the XXTst Assembly District
always has his left hand in his trousers pocket AZ he
walks walks along broadway with extensive strides, Mr.
Whitney L. character in his way. He is most m
tense partisan IN anything ho undertakes anu Will
work, so bis friends say. twenty-five hours out OF
twentyf to accomplish any desired object During
TINS OF political excitement he is frequent VISITOR ut
Committee headquarters and rarely ever fails to bring
check with HIM. After having sent his own check
to the general fund he a." stands up" every other
| Republican he meets and demands check at the
Whitney would talk his victim to death II he did not
get the check. Among other things in which he ~
deeply Interested is the promotion OF protective tarih
and he Irmly believes that the country would go 10
the howwows Int Tor the protection system under
| III cL,